Cognitive Radio Spectrum Sharing for Remote Terrain-Independent Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing frequency spectrum allocation policies lead to inefficiencies, with much of the usable spectrum remaining idle due to exclusive licenses, causing a shortage and preventing opportunistic sharing, especially in remote locations where terrain-independent communication is needed for applications like agriculture and IoT.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing cognitive radios to identify and share unused spectrum segments, allowing secondary users to detect primary users and switch to alternative frequencies, enabling efficient terrain-independent communication through groundwave, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, and Meteor Burst/Scatter transmission methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed spectrum allocation with exclusive licenses is used, then primary users have guaranteed access to specific frequency bands, but spectrum utilization efficiency deteriorates with much of the spectrum remaining idle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic spectrum sharing where secondary users can opportunistically access frequency bands when primary users are not transmitting. The system continuously monitors spectrum usage and dynamically adjusts access rights, allowing the same spectrum to serve multiple purposes at different times, thereby improving overall utilization while maintaining primary user guarantees.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of spectrum access by introducing time-based and usage-based conditions. Secondary users can access spectrum bands only when specific parameters indicate primary users are inactive, transforming the static exclusive allocation into a conditional shared access model that optimizes spectrum productivity.
2Productivity
If spectrum sharing is implemented to improve utilization efficiency, then more users can access the spectrum, but interference with primary users may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where secondary users continuously monitor the spectrum environment for primary user transmissions. When primary users are detected, the system receives feedback signals and immediately ceases secondary transmissions, preventing interference. This closed-loop control ensures spectrum sharing occurs only when safe, maintaining both high utilization and primary user protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by having secondary users detect and avoid frequency bands currently in use by primary users before transmitting. This proactive approach prevents potential interference by ensuring secondary transmissions only occur in spectrum segments confirmed to be free of primary users, eliminating the harmful effect before it can occur.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cognitive radios are used to detect and switch frequencies, then spectrum sharing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cognitive radio components universal by designing them to perform multiple functions: primary user detection, spectrum analysis, frequency switching, and interference avoidance. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional cognitive radio module, the system achieves high adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same hardware and software serve multiple purposes in the spectrum sharing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-install communication networks for remote applications, avoiding high-cost satellite connections by efficiently utilizing shared spectrum, ensuring reliable communication over varying terrain without impacting primary users.
Implementation Method 1
Through signal processing and other techniques, the secondary user should be able to determine when a portion of the shared spectrum is available for use and when a primary is present
Implementation Method 2
enabling efficient terrain-independent communication through groundwave, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, and Meteor Burst/Scatter transmission methods
Implementation Method 3
enabling efficient terrain-independent communication through groundwave, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, and Meteor Burst/Scatter transmission methods
Implementation Method 4
enabling efficient terrain-independent communication through groundwave, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, and Meteor Burst/Scatter transmission methods
Data Source
AI summary
Establishment of a Terrain Independent Communication using—The HF band (3-30 MHz) and VHF (30 to 300 MHz) frequency spectrums that is provided for use as shared spectrum by the FCC. Different segments within the spectrum are in use today by emergency and utility companies in an intermittent fashion. The utilization of the shared spectrum as of date is very low (typically below 20%). The invention seeks to identify optimum, and less frequented frequency ranges within the spectrum to establish terrain independent connectivity between base stations and end points up to 1200-mile radius. This connection is used to provide terrain independent communication for data communication for point to point and point to multi-point applications. Typically, this connection is used for short bust automatic data acquisition applications, such as sensor monitoring, and other communication applications.